AN: Thanks so much to everyone that has reviewed this story. Especially my consistent reviewers, you're reviews have meant the world to me through this, and I have greatly appreciated them. I love this story s much, but I'm pretty sure that now is the time to finish it. I have a couple more chapters planned, no less than 2, but I'm pretty sure no more than 4. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon, since this story has priority to be finished. Thanks guys.

Disclaimer: I don't own "Lost" or "Never Leave Your Heart Alone" which belongs to Butterfly Boucher

Chapter 23- Lost Hearts in Manhattan, Part 1

She loved him even though she didn't want to admit it. Shannon looked down at the floor with difficulty. She was sitting on the bed a hotel just staring at the carpet in a blank gaze. Shannon didn't love James, she never loved any of the men she used to get back at Boone. Sometimes she wondered why she did it, why it was so important to her that she made him upset. Shannon bit her lip as she felt her lips start to tremble. In pained her to see him hurting, but at the same time it gave her such joy. God she was sick. How could she love him so much, but yet feed off of his suffering. Shannon bit the inside of her cheek as a salty tear slid down her face. Her heart ached with sorrow, and a dull throbbing echoed in her forehead from an approaching headache. Tomorrow she was leaving for Georgia. She was going to leave Boone behind, and forget about him forever. This love they shared was sick. Boone always played into her games. He was either incredibly caring and loving despite all of her shortcomings or else he was the biggest idiot on the face of this earth. Shannon wiped at her eyes as the phone rang on her press. She cursed the damn machine under her breath and ignored it. Shannon fell back onto the sheets of the hotel bed, with the pillow over her head. She worried that Boone would stop caring after she left, he would stay with Isabella and then be happy. Shannon struggled with the realization that Boone just might not miss her after all. She felt it coming, but she tried to control it. As she closed her eyes and tried to drift off to sleep Shannon saw the way Boone had looked at her that night. He had warned her about marrying James, and he knew that she didn't love him. Shannon winced in pain as she remembered smacking Boone so hard that he fell back into the wall. And then she had cussed at him, and treated him so evilly. The things she had said to him were more than enough to push him away forever. Her words had been so hateful, and she had even wished that he would die. Shannon balled up her fists, and then released her clammy palms as she gripped onto the sheets. Her face was covered with black tear stains from her mascara, and she knew that she looked a mess, but she didn't care.

Shannon released the sheets in her hands when she felt all the blood start to rush through her fists. Right now all she wanted to feel was pain for the way she had treated Boone. She used him all these years, and it had been okay, because she had never considered his feelings. Shannon had ignored the fact that he had been drinking more than usual and chain smoking. Shannon placed the pillow to her mouth as she let out a scream. She hated her life she hated it! Whenever she felt something she ran away from it, and never looked back and that primarily had to do with the fact that she was scared. Shannon forced herself up, and then placed her hand to her stomach. She felt as if she was going to be sick. Boone.

Shannon took in a mouthful of air and then tilted her head backwards. She was determined to get over him, and forget about everything. The phone rang again, Shannon stared daggers at it. A small part of her hoped that it was Boone, but if it was him, then she knew that she would berate him once again, even though she regretted doing so earlier. She sighed as she reached for the phone with shaking hands. Shannon wiped away the last of her tears and answered the phone.

"Hello," Her voice was shaky and weak.

There was no response.

"Who the hell is this!"

"Shannon, your brother was in an accident,"

Shannon's mouth dropped open in shock at first. She thought she had just heard that Boone was in accident. But that wasn't possible. Shannon smiled. No, Boone wasn't in an accident. He was just probably playing some trick on her to make her regret treating him the way she did. "Haha, funny,"

"Do you know who this is?"

Shannon stood up and then walked towards the window, "No, I don't, should I." She then checked her reflection in the mirror.

"This is Boone's girlfriend, Isabella…he, um…" She started to cry on the other end.

Shannon bit the inside of her cheek. Her legs started to shake and a feeling of dread coursed through her. Boone's girlfriend was crying. What if he really was in an accident? Shannon looked around the room with tears starting to invade her hazel saucers. Her breathing pattern started to grow ragged, as a feeling of dizziness washed over her. No…it couldn't be. Isabella was lying. Boone was fine, he was.

"He was drinking…he had too much and then…"

Shannon's mouth began to tremble once again, and she started to shake her head. She was starting to believe it now. Boone had been drinking a lot because of her, probably trying to deal with all of the pain that she had caused him. Her head was now spinning with thousands of questions. What if Boone was dead? Or injured or…Shannon hurled the phone across the room. She gripped onto the edge of the bed and then looked down at the floor. Just breathe, just breathe, but her attempts weren't working.

Boone was in a car accident?

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Shannon couldn't remember the last time she cried. She saw mental images of him trapped inside a car, and laying against the seat lifelessly. Oh God. Shannon placed her hand over her mouth, and then tried to close her eyes as she felt the tears start to flow. Then she saw Boone lying lifelessly on the street, with blood streaming down his face, and his beautiful blue eyes staring towards the dark night in a fixed state. Shannon brought her knees up to her body and held them close as she started to sob.

It was all becoming real to her now. Boone was in an accident and it was her fault. Pain gripped her soul at the thought of Boone being dead.

"No, he can't be." She spoke first in a whisper and then as the realization that he could already be dead started to haunt her thoughts, she had to push herself up. Shannon had to find out the truth. She had to know. Shannon grabbed onto the doorknob as she nearly fell forwards. She felt weak and drained of all energy, but despite it all, the one person that she honestly did care about was Boone. The way she used him, had only been part of her façade, her way to make sure that he never left her. She needed Boone to care about her, because after he stopped caring no one else would even bother. Shannon walked briskly down the hall towards the elevator. People watched her in surprise, but no one made an attempt to console her.

Ten minutes later Shannon arrived at Boone's apartment. She didn't find him there, so she decided to call his cell phone and to her disappointment Isabella had it. As Isabella told Shannon where Boone was the reality started to hit her once again like a hammer. Shannon was so shaken that she couldn't even talk. All she could do was cry, and let everything that she had been holding inside out. The phone fell from her hands as she reached for a picture of Boone on the press. Shannon held it close to her heart as she dropped down to the floor. Her chest ached because she had been sobbing so heavily, and her throat was raw. What if he died tonight? How could she live with that? If Boone died it would be all her fault. Shannon winced in regret as she imagined Boone looking back at her before taking his last breath. What would she tell him? That she loved him all this time, and that the only reason she acted this way was to keep him from leaving her alone? Shannon wiped away her tears. She was selfish and she didn't deserve him. He deserved better than her, someone that could love him, and treat him the way that he should be. Shannon forced herself up. Her legs were wobbling, and her were shaking as she tried to regain her balance. She couldn't see Boone, she just couldn't because the pain would be too much.

Shannon felt tears start to slide down her cheeks at the painful memories. She wiped them away as quickly as they came, but somehow they managed to continue to fall. Shannon looked down in embarrassment. Why was this happening now? Boone was perfectly fine, and he had recovered from the accident. So why was she crying. Shannon looked back at Boone, and then at Isabella who was still on her knees waiting for Boone to accept her proposal. None of this made sense, because Shannon couldn't understand why Isabella would ask Boone to marry him after Shannon had kissed him, and Boone had readily accepted her kiss back. He watched Shannon with pain in his eyes. Shannon couldn't read him. His expression was emotionless, but yet his eyes were still fixed on her. Shannon tried to stop crying but she couldn't, because it felt as if a burden was released off of her. For so long she had blocked out that night of Boone's car accident, because she hated the fact that she left Boone in the hospital, but at the same time the emotions that she had felt that night had flooded back to her. Shannon looked down as she felt a sob trying to escape her throat. Something was definitely coming over her, something not normal, but yet it felt so right. She had to let go. Let go of the anger, because she had no reason to be mad at Boone. But she was mad at herself for treating him the way she had. Shannon looked back up and then forced a smile in his direction. She didn't hate him, she never did. He was the only person in her life that cared about her.

Boone's eyebrows furrowed low over his eyes as he watched Shannon. He could tell that something had just snapped inside of her. But what? Never before had he seen her look at him the way she was now. Boone closed his eyes, but Shannon was the master at fooling everyone even herself.

"Boone," Isabella said.

Boone had forgotten that Isabella was on the ground. As he looked down at her, and back at Shannon, it was more obvious to him now than ever that he never loved Isabella the way he did Shannon. Maybe he felt something for her, but more than anything she had been like an antidote to freeing himself of the pain that Shannon had caused him. Shannon had been like a drug to Boone, and Isabella helped him to get over his addiction. Boone stepped back. "Why are you proposing to me after what just happened?"

Isabella blinked her eyes in confusion, "Because I love you,"

"Shannon just kissed me…and I kissed her back. You know about everything now, because Shannon told you…Isabella I don't understand why you would still want to be with me."

"Because I…" Isabella paused and then tucked her hair behind her ear. "Because I accept that you're not perfect and I…"

"I just kissed Shannon in front of you, you deserve better than me." Boone sighed as he reached for Isabella's hands and then pulled her up. "It's not like you to accept what I've done, I'm the one that's wrong and…."

"I was wrong too." Isabella tossed in quickly.

Shannon turned away from the two. She just didn't want to hear anymore, but then again she couldn't leave. Shannon wrapped her arms around her body and continued to listen as Isabella tried to explain her reasons for proposing to Boone.

"I…" Isabella cleared her throat, and then sighed. "I haven't been faithful to you either."

Shannon's mouth dropped open in shock.

Boone stepped away from Isabella in disbelief. "What?"

"But I'm through, I realized that you'll all I want. And no one else compares. I was so stupid to think that I could find someone else that cares so much and…"

Boone raised his hand to stop her. "So we've both been lying all this time." He bit his lip, "I thought it was just me." He had to sit down on the edge of the couch as he tried to digest the information. "So that's why you proposed to me, because you thought that if we were both wrong then it would be okay…but two wrongs don't make a right." Boone blinked away the tears that were in his eyes. "I guess you're right Shannon, and I am the biggest fool of all." He leaned forward and then placed his head in his hands. "I don't want to be with either of you…I just want to be alone."

"Boone," Isabella started.

"Please get out of my house," He said sullenly. Boone forced himself up and then walked towards the door. As he opened the door, the same nosy lady that had threatened to call the police was still standing outside with the phone.

"Did anyone get beat up?" She asked trying to pear into the apartment.

"No, can you just go away." He muttered.

She looked around once more, and then pointed to her eyes and then at Boone's, "I'm watching you youngin'."

Boone turned away from the woman and then looked at Isabella, "Be honest…you never loved me."

Isabella looked down.

"You wanted my money?"

Isabella gasped in Boone's direction and then shook her head. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to come up with a worthy excuse, but she couldn't lie anymore because she knew it was over. "I did love you but…"

"You didn't….I used you to get over Shannon, and you used me for my money, why else would you hurry to marry me. You saw Shannon as a threat, and you weren't going to let her take you chances of being rich away." Boone bit the inside of his cheek, "I thought better of you until now."

"Boone…" Isabella started.

He shook his head, "There's nothing else to say, we're done, and I want you to leave."

Isabella placed her hands over her eyes as she the tears slid down her cheeks. Boone didn't even look at her after he closed the door behind her.

Shannon looked after him. She opened her mouth to tell him the truth, and let him know what really happened that night, but Shannon couldn't bring herself to do it, because the time still didn't seem right.

Boone paced back and forth, and then he turned to Shannon with a look of defeat. "I can't do this Shannon, we can't…"

Shannon looked down.

Before Boone said anything else Shannon watched as he stormed out of the loft. She jumped as he slammed the door behind her. She closed her eyes and then took in slow breaths as she tried to accept the fact that Isabella had been using Boone this whole time as well, even though Shannon had always knew it, she couldn't imagine how hard this had to be for Boone to stomach. She sat down on the couch and looked around the bare apartment. An all too familiar feeling of emptiness took over Shannon, except this time the emptiness didn't belong to her, but instead it belonged to Boone.

Boone had been at the bar for at least an hour. He had been sober for so long, but unfortunately all it took was one night to send him back into his old ways. He had already downed three beers, and now he was working on a couple of shots. The alcohol burned as it went down his throat, but yet it felt so good. Every glass he drunk the further the pain seemed to go away, and it felt good. Boone tilted his head backwards, and then closed his eyes. In his hands he held his car keys. Boone shivered at the thought of getting behind the wheel, but he was going too. He was going to drive, find some place far away from here, and just start over. Leave behind his loft, Shannon, Isabella everything that had pained him all off his life. Boone swallowed down his last shot, he looked at the empty glass painfully and then placed it down. Men were all around him talking about sports, and here he was all alone crying. Boone felt sickened and disgusted with himself. He grinded his teeth together, as he thought about the realization that Isabella had just used him in order to get to his money. She had been no different than Shannon. Boone placed his hands to his eyes and wiped at the disgusting tears with frustration. He just wanted to get away from it all. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash, he placed it down for the bartender and then stumbled out of the bar.
"We're here," Charlie said turning to Claire.

Claire smiled, "We are, how come there isn't that many cars here? Isn't this supposed to be a party for Driveshaft?"

Charlie smirked. "Um…yeah, of course. I guess everyone is just late. You know producers, and rock stars…none of them are on time, not any of them. They all think there bloody Gods."

Claire laughed. "Okay, but…" She glanced at Charlie who had a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes. "How come I get the feeling you're up to something?"

"Me….me?" Charlie stuttered pointing a finger at his chest.

Claire nodded and then affectionately ran her hands through Charlie's blonde hair, "Yes you, what are you up to Charlie?" Claire asked in a sweet tone.

Charlie's lips curled into a smile. "You know I love you right,"

"I know that," Claire replied. She reached for Charlie's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "So where is everyone? Is this really a party for Driveshaft, or is it something else?"

Charlie opened his door, and then quickly ran over to Claire's side, "I'll answer all of your questions as soon as we get inside."

Charlie opened Claire's door and then stepped aside so Claire she step out. He closed her door, and they walked towards the building with their arms linked. "This isn't a party for Driveshaft."

"What?" Claire asked in shock.

Charlie smiled back at her, "But I'm hoping that you'll like this so much better."

"But…I'm pretty sure you had a gathering with Driveshaft today, you didn't blow that off for me Charlie? Tell me that you didn't."

"I'm not with Driveshaft anymore,"

Claire gasped, "Charlie?"

"I'm alone, it's just going to be me, Charlie Pace."

Claire's eyebrows furrowed low over her eyes, "Since when? Music is your life and…."

"It's second, you and Aaron will always come first," Charlie brought Claire closer to him, "You two will always be the most important priorities in my life,"

"Charlie," Claire sighed.

He smiled back at her. "I'm not giving up my music, I'm just setting out on my own. Driveshaft was about my brother and I, and then he left and I formed this band with new members, the point is it's not Driveshaft, and I can do better by myself."

Claire nodded, "I'll support you either way,"

"I know Claire," Charlie leaned forward to plant a soft kiss on her cheek. "And that's why I want to be with you…forever and ever, and ever." He smiled, "And did I say ever?"

"You did…so what is this place?"

Charlie opened the door for Claire and his smiled widened as he surveyed the small ballroom which was decorated with a Hawaiian Theme. Two women greeted them at the door with leis.

"Aloha," They said.

Claire grinned. "Oh mi god this place is beautiful," She squeezed Charlie's hand tighter, "Charlie!"

Charlie accepted Claire's warm hug with wide arms. "Come to Hawaii with me next week, I know it's sudden but…"

As they walked down the stairs other women threw flowers at their feet.

Claire was still trying to take in all of this. One hand was on her heart while the other was to her mouth. She still couldn't believe it.

"Marry me Claire,"

"I am marrying you Charlie, I already said yes." Claire replied looking at him with love in her eyes.

"I know, but I want to marry you soon. Like next week." Charlie blushed, "A little too soon I know but…"

Claire placed her hands on Charlie's face and pulled him into a kiss. A soft and tender kiss that left them both feeling dizzy and flushed with warmth.

"I've been setting this up for a while, remember when I asked you about the places that you wanted to get married?"

"Last September!"

Charlie nodded, "It has to be perfect." He looked down shyly, because he knew his cheeks were as red as tomatoes. Hopefully Claire said yes, because he really wanted to be with her, at least officially. "I love you, and I want you to be my wife. I know it's incredibly cheesy, and sappy, and to some people maybe even disturbing…"

"Charlie, you're not disturbing. I love you too." Claire said holding his hand tightly in hers. "So um…continue with what you were saying."

"I asked you about your family and if you wanted to invite them and…"

"I said No," Claire said with a nod.

Charlie smiled, "I know you did, so I didn't have to worry about inviting them. And as for my family, we're still not on the best of terms so I didn't invite them either."

"Not even Liam?"

Charlie shook his head, "No, but I did invite our friends, the ones that we have made here. Shannon, Boone, Jack…Jack has a friend named Kate, so I invited her too. I know you probably want a big wedding."

"No I've always wanted something small and personal," Claire replied biting her lip as Charlie brought her hands up to his lips.

"I have tickets for us to get to Hawaii, and the wedding is a week from now."

"You planned the whole thing by yourself!"

"Well Boone used to be a wedding planner, or he still is…I'm not sure, but he helped me a little bit and…"

Claire kissed Charlie again.

Charlie was breathless now. "So is this okay?"

"Is it okay?"

Charlie nodded, "I'm not sure, because I asked you to get married to me in Hawaii a week from today, and I'm sure it's a little sudden and…"

"I want to marry you, and I would today if you had asked."

Charlie tilted his head to the side as he looked at his soon to be bride in adoration. "You need a dress, Boone and I choose a lot of dresses so you would have a big selection, and we also choose bridesmaids dresses for Shannon and Kate for you to look through."

"I still can't believe this…" Claire winced as she felt her eyes starting to well up with tears. "You planned all of this behind my back without me knowing." She placed her hand to her mouth as she felt the tears starting to fall. "Why do you have to be so incredible?"

"Oh I'm not believe me…" Charlie started.

Claire looked around the gorgeous ballroom, and then back at Charlie. "Yes you are,"

Isabella knocked on Sawyer's door. She quickly tried to wipe away the tears and running mascara. He opened the door shirtless and with a box of Chinese food in his hands.

"Hungry darlin?" He asked.

Isabella pushed him aside and flopped down on his couch after pushing away some dirty clothes and boxers. She was tempted to ask him how could he live in this filth, but Boone had just broken up with her.

Sawyer sat down on the edge of the couch, "It's over?"

Isabella bit her lip, "I did love him."

"You just wanted his money," Sawyer said looking away with his jaw clenched. He placed down the box of shrimp fried rice and walked over to the window. "I guess there ain't gonna be no payday anymore."

"I did love him." Isabella said.

"He saw right through you didn't he. I'm sure the boy knew all along. He should have seen the red flag when you asked to move in with him. But then again he said "No" so maybe he was a little smarter than you claimed."

Isabella rested her head against the couch, "This was just another con to you…"

"Don't give me that shit Bella, you were in on this con. You were the one that was sleeping with him, and trying to get your hands on his money. Yes I was in on it, but I wasn't the one screwing him. Don't try and act like this was all on me."

"Well whatever, you're not getting a dime from him, and neither am I."

Sawyer smiled, "See, you don't care about him."

Isabella grabbed her purse, "Why did I even come here? What good did talking to you do? It didn't do me shit. I'm gone, we're through."

"Yeah, we are because I've found a new con. Someone who will actually give me a payoff." Sawyer looked Isabella up and down once more, "But if you wanna, you can give me one last good time for the road."

"Go to hell," Isabella growled.

"As long as you sit right next to me on the ride."

Isabella glared at him and then stormed off.

Boone sat in his car. In one hand he held his keys, and in the other he held a bottle of beer. He was angry and disgusted with himself, because he had been sober for so long. So many times he had wanted to have alcohol but he always managed to hold back, and now here he was, in his car about to make the same mistake that had nearly killed him. Boone swallowed down a wad of nervousness as he thought about turning on the ignition. He didn't care if he got in another accident, because the pain he felt was too much. He felt as if his heart had just been ripped out of his chest, and then thrown on the ground, as he laid next to it struggling to survive. Boone leaned forward and rested his head against the steering wheel. He clenched his fists as he felt the tears start to fall. He just needed to get away from his life in New York. He needed to get away from it all. And Shannon…

Boone placed down his keys. Even though he was drunk and down, he wasn't going to make the same mistakes he had made in the past. Boone allowed his head to fall back against the seat. He was disappointed in himself, because now it was all becoming painfully obvious to him. Love just wasn't for him. Whenever he tried to love someone he just got hurt, and he was tired of getting hurt. Boone sighed as he sat up.

"I just need to go. I just need to get away from all of this…" He rested his hand against his mouth and then looked out at the black night. As empty as he was feeling right now, it didn't matter if he left. Just like every other place he had been too, New York had become a place on his list that he didn't want to go back to. Boone clenched his jaw. He looked down at the beer bottle in his hand and slowly placed it down. He wasn't going to go back to the person that he used to be, he just couldn't. After Charlie and Claire's wedding, he was going to leave, just disappear without telling Shannon where he was going. She could keep the place, he didn't want to kick her out, he just needed to live. Boone bit his lip. He needed to find true happiness for once in his life, before he grew up into this miserable old man who looked to other people to shape himself.

And it's open
For distraction
You found all the words you need
Well I found nothing
I just grumble
'cause I don't know what I feel

The keys fell from Boone's hands. Now that he thought about it he couldn't remember the last thing that he had done for himself. He moved to New York to get away from Shannon, and then he brought the house because he needed a distraction from the pain that had driven him to drink in the first place.

"I'm pathetic," Boone whispered in reflection. He placed his hands to his aching head as the realization washed over him. All his life he had lived in Shannon's shadow, living his life for her, and loving her even when she didn't love him back. Boone took in a mouthful of air as the shadow of who he used to be washed over him. How could he have been walking around all this time, so empty, and so needy for love. He pulled down the mirror and looked at his reflection. His thick eyebrows were furrowed low over his eyes, and his clear eyes reflected the misery he felt. Boone looked down at the beer bottle and at the keys once more. He believed that if he decided to drive this time he wouldn't be so lucky. Boone pulled back up the mirror, he had almost died once, but he couldn't die like this, so clueless to what he really wanted in life. This wasted existence that lived for everyone but himself. Boone gripped onto the edges of the chair as he looked up towards the sky. The moon was beaming down over the city.

Boone was giving himself another chance to live. Because he didn't want to die, at least not like this.

The moral to the story goes
Never leave your heart
Never leave your heart... alone

Aaron was crying. Shannon walked towards his room. She couldn't call for Boone to take care of him, because he had left. Shannon took in a deep breath as she picked up the baby. She had been crying since Boone left, and she couldn't stop. Shannon tried to wipe away the wet tears on her face, but they kept on coming. Boone was fine, he was alive and breathing, but why did she feel as if she was reliving that day over again. The day when he had almost died. Shannon picked up Aaron.

The baby continued to cry.

"What do you want from me!" Shannon cried.

The baby continued to weep. His face was red and his little fists were balled up as he punched at the air.

Screaming at the baby wasn't going to make her feel any better. Shannon closed her eyes as she held Aaron closer to her. She couldn't just leave him. "I'm not feeling that good either…"

Aaron whimpered.

Shannon lowered herself down onto a couch in the room. "I would cry too if I was stuck with me. You don't have to tell me kid, I'm mean, and wicked…and I've chased away the only person that cared." Shannon took in a deep breath as she tried to contain the choked sobs that were begging to be released. "I deserve this. He doesn't."

Aaron stopped crying.

Shannon looked down at the baby in surprise. "I know, I know I'm wrong. It's just I was scared that he was going to stop caring, and then again I didn't want to be weak…I thought if I gave in and showed Boone how much I did care then he would go away."

Aaron rested his head against Shannon's shoulder.

Shannon blinked away her tears as she realized that Aaron was now falling asleep on her shoulder. "I don't want to be like this anymore…I can't. I can't…I can't…" She forced herself up and walked towards her room.

Run for shelter
An umbrella
Fights the rain but not the wind
And I'd be silly
To start preaching
'cause I don't know which point to make

"I've pushed him away this whole time, needing him to come back to me. I should've felt disgusted but I…" Shannon rubbed Aaron's back. She glanced at her hand as she tried to ease the baby into a deeper sleep. Her eyebrows furrowed low over her eyes. "I don't know why I can't stop crying. God! I want to stop…" Shannon sat down on the edge of her bed and then started to heave as she sobbed. "I'm such a horrible person. Boone thinks I left him at the hospital, and I didn't care, but I did! I did! But what would I do if he died…I would be all alone…and no one wants to be alone, I know I don't want to be."

The moral to the story goes
Never leave your heart
In a box
Locked up
With cold cold ice
Never leave your heart
...Never leave your heart... alone

Isabella drove towards the Interstate. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew that she needed to get away from the City. Signs for New Jersey were coming up. Isabella gripped the wheel tighter. She did love Boone, even if she had been after his money at first. Isabella bit her lip in regret. He was so honest, and decent, and unfortunately so easy to use. Maybe it was for the best that he found out the truth, because she feared Sawyer would've convinced her to go through with the con. Isabella felt the bitter taste of blood start to fill her mouth. She did love him. She did.

Isabella squeezed her eyes shut as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She would worry about him now. Whenever Shannon had hurt him before, Boone had come to her, and she listened. She was there for him. But she was also there for his money. Isabella rolled down the window and allowed the frosty New York weather to circulate around her car. She entertained the thought of just driving until she ran out of gas, she needed this time to think…and most importantly she needed to apologize to Boone. Isabella winced. What if he was drinking now? She had caught him so many times looking at a bottle of alcohol in need, and craving. But she had been there to pacify those cravings, and now he was alone.

Am I frozen
But it's summer
Is that rain or is that me
Yes I'm melting
Please be happy
One day soon
We might just swim

Isabella had to turn around. Boone at least deserved an apology. No matter how ridiculous it sounded she at least owed him that. He was too good for her to just walk away from. But what would an apology do? It would only make him feel worse. Isabella squeezed her eyes shut as images of Boone being rushed into the hospital flooded her brain. There had been so much blood. The doctors said that he might not make it, but he did. Isabella shook her head as she saw Boone getting into another accident. She saw him dying alone, and that made her feel guilty and disgusted with her actions. Isabella blinked away the tears. She didn't want to admit it, but deep down the reason she proposed was because of the money even if love had to do with a little bit of it.

A loud blaring BEEP filled the night air.

She looked up slowly. Blinding bright yellow lights flooded the car. She screamed. Her hands were flying around the wheel. Trying to stop the car. Pressing the brakes frantically. Her feet were slipping. The truck was coming to fast. The light had been red…she had just ran a red light and drove into the oncoming traffic.

Shannon placed Aaron back down in his crib. She had managed to stop crying, but she still didn't feel any better. Her hazel eyes drifted towards the clock. It was 12:45, and Boone still wasn't back. Shannon tried to swallow down all the feelings of anxiety that were begging to surface within her. She stepped back into her room, turned off the light and collapsed onto her bed.

Shannon watched as doctors frantically operated on the patient. She struggled to see who they were operating on. Where was she? The patient was flatling. A doctor rushed past.

"We're loosing her!"

Who were they loosing? Who? Shannon tried to get a better look at the patient on the operating table.

"Time of death 1:45 am." The doctor announced in defeat. They started to take off their masks and gloves and headed out the door.

Before Shannon could get a good look, a sheet was draped over the patients body. As the doctors left she slowly inched closer. The hospital was so white, and clean, but yet death was strong in the air. She was scared, even if she was dreaming. With trembling hands Shannon pulled back the sheet. A gasp escaped her throat as she stared back at her…her body. She was the one that had died.

"Should we notify her family?" Someone said outside.

"No, I'm alive!" Shannon screamed. She ran to the door with tears in her eyes. "I'm alive, I am!"

"No one came. There is no one here to announce her death too."

Shannon blinked away her tears as her hands dropped down by her sides. No one was there for her? She had died alone…all alone.

"Poor girl, that's the worst way to leave this world. All alone without anyone to care."

Shannon woke up hyperventilating. She had been fine a couple of minutes ago. Thinking that it would pass Shannon quickly sat up. She placed her hands on her knees as she struggled to breathe. Tears welled in her eyes as her face flushed a dark shade of crimson. She hadn't had an asthma attack in so long, so this couldn't be one. It couldn't. Sweat dribbled down her face as her breathing pattern started to grow more sporadic. Shannon heaved violently. She grinded her teeth together as the sensation as if her lungs had closing up took over her body. Shannon tried to scream but she couldn't. She gagged as she tried to take in oxygen, but her body wouldn't let her. Her dream played in front of her eyes. She saw her body in the hospital, and then the doctors declaring her dead after she passed away on her own.

"N…N…No!" Shannon screamed. She squeezed her fists as she tried to hold on. Boone…Boone…I need you. Shannon fell to the floor. Her hands gripping the carpet as her stomach rose up and down in tortured intervals. "Help me!" Shannon cried. Tears streamed from her face onto the floor. "I can't breathe…" A feeling of warmness started to surge through her body. She was crying so hard and it was taking up the little bit of oxygen she had left. "Help me…I don't want to die like this…I just don't want too…"

The moral to the story goes
Never leave your heart
In a box
Locked up with cold cold ice
Never leave your heart
...Never leave your heart
... Never leave your heart alone